Fish egg selector



' July-19, 1949. E. J, MCLEARY l 2,476,425 1 FISH EGG SELECTOR Filed May 28, 1945 l r rfi.) t.. Y

Patented July 19, 1949 UNITED STA-TES.. OFFICE) Y v 2,476,425 Y, l

FISH EGG sELE'cJT-R"A v f Edward -J.`Mc'Leary, Spokane`,^Wash.7 Application May 2s, 1945, serial ism-596,391

1 c1aim.- (01.209L126) This invention relates to a device for removing dead fish eggs from water in a hatching trough and it is one object of the -invention to provide a device by means of which dead eggs may be easily removed from a mass of leggs in the trough without likelihood of also withdrawing live eggs along with theI dead eggs.

Another objectof the-invention is to provide an egg removing device wherein suction is exerted to remove the dead'eggs, the tube or nozzle of the device being so formed that there will be low suction at the front end of the vnozzle and thus allow the end of the nozzle to be disposed adjacent dead eggs without live eggs being also sucked into the nozzle, suction in the nozzle back of its front end being increased to such an extent that the eggs entering the nozzle will quickly pass through it and into a container where they will be held and prevented from leaving the container through a tube through which water escapes from the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide an egg remover including a receptacle adapted to be hung from a wall of a hatching trough, the neck of the receptacle being closed by a removable plug through which pass tubes, one tube having connected with it a hose provided with a nozzle at its outer end and the other tube being provided with a suction regulating valve and having connected with it a hose in which a suction bulb is disposed for withdrawing water and air from the receptacle and thus causing suction through the first tube so that dead eggs may be removed from a mass of eggs in the hatching trough.

Another object of the invention is to provide an egg remover which is simple in construction, not liable to get out of order, and very easy to operate.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a view showing a hatching trough in section and the improved egg removing device in side elevation.

Figure 2 is a sectional view upon an enlarged scale taken through the neck of the receptacle and the plug closing the same, tubes extending through the plug being shown in elevation.

Figure 3 is a side view of the nozzle through which eggs are removed from the hatching trough.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the front end portion of the nozzle.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken transversely through the frntendof' thenozzi aiongiine 5-5fof Figure 4.. v

This improved-eggselector and remover is used for removing dead fsh eggsfroma mass of eggs in a hatchingtrou'gh or tank l.H When 'sh eggs are placedin a hatchingtrough a number die and 4these eggs must be removed; The vdead eggs are readily distinguished fromlive eggs by their color and since they. rise, due .ftotheir lighter weight, and collectat thefto'p of a-mass of eggs, they can be easily seenfbyan attendant looking into the trough. Thedeadeggs develop a fungus. which is liable to contact'withand destroygood eggs and it is important thatthe deadegg's be removed. Itis also.desirableltoremove the dead eggs without taking with them good eggs and this has been found diicult and also very tedious work. Devices operated by vacuum have been used but not found satisfactory as the suction through the nozzle is such that good eggs as well as dead eggs are drawn into the tube or nozzle due to the speed water and eggs are sucked through the nozzle.

The improved egg remover overcomes this objection to vacuum actuated devices, as now con- Vstructed, and has been found to successfully remove dead eggs without carrying good eggs with them.

The container or egg receptacle 2 constituting an element of the improved egg remover is in the form of a glass jar, having a neck 3 at its upper end about which is secured a ring 4. This ring lis secured by a bolt 5 passing through ends of the strip from which the ring is formed and carries a hook 6 for engaging over a wall of the trough and suspending the receptacle or jar at a side of the trough as shown in Figure 1. A plug 'l formed of rubber has tight wedging t within the neck 3 and through this plug are formed longitudinally extending openings 8 and 9 through which metal tubes I0 and Il pass and have snug fitting engagement with walls of the openings so that leakage will not occur about the tubes. A rubber hose I2 is engaged with the outer or upper end of tube l0 and this hose is of such length that the attendant may grasp the tubular nozzle I3 at its free end and readily move the nozzle throughout the length and breadth of the trough I for removing dead eggs from a mass of eggs in the trough.

The tubular nozzle is illustrated in detail in Figures 3, 4, and 5 and constitutes an important element of the device. This nozzle may be of any length desired and for a portion of its length from its front end is flattened to form a flat face I4 which reduces the transverse area of the front end of the nozzle. Inlet necks I5 project from the nozzle radially thereof in circumferentially spaced relation to the front end portion of the nozzle between side edges of the flat surface I4 5 of the nozzle. These necks I5 are in such spaced relation to the front end of the nozzle that when the device is in use and the open front end of the nozzle pressed against a dead eggfby a finger placed againstl` the flat face I4, ,theopennecks 10 will be disposed above the surface of water in the trough and air enter the nozzle through the# necks. Therefore, suction through the front end of the nozzle will be reduced by air entering the nozzle rearwardly of its front end anda deadreggaw will be drawn into thef nozzle at slow speed and the nozzle can be withdrawn and'ftransferredlto another dead egg before good eggs Ileana` dead egg are drawn into the nozzle.

A suction bulb I6 is connected with the outer .20 end of the tube I I and carriesia' hose I1-through which Water may flow to a suitable 4place of disposal. The tube I'I ofinverted U-shaped for- Y mation and its outer-arm is ofvappreciably greater lengththan its inner arm, Vthe inner arm having 25 its inner endV portion projecting downwardly from the plug and formedl with a multiplicity of small" perforations I8 `sodisi,rib1.1tecl that the inner endportion of the inner arrnforrnsa'strainer I9- which prevents eggs in the receptacle-'Zmxom passingA 30 through tube II-With water. "A valve 2 0 inter-1l posed in the outer arm ofl tube I-I controls suctionA through this tube A, and'Y regulates the suction"- through the hose I2' and the nozzle I3. i VAfter -all dead eggs have been removed fromfthe-trough the `35- hook 6 is detached from the wall of the trough and the plug I Withdrawn so that water and dead eggs in the receptacle may be poured from the receptacle through its neck 3 and the device cleaned and put away until again needed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

In a device for removing dead fish eggs from a hatching trough, a tubular nozzle straight throughout its length and having its -front end portion flattened along one side and providing a tipI of appreciably less tranverse area than the remainder ,of the tube and formed with a flat nger engaging surface, said nozzle being formed with outwardlyl projecting air inlet necks spaced from its iront end and extending laterally from thev rear fportionotthe tip radially thereof in circumerentially spaced relation to each other.

" EDWARD J. MCLEARY.

REFERENCES 'CITED The following "references are ofV record me Ofrthsrvpaten?? c,

UNITED lsTA'rlt's lieafi'lcrrrs "f VVOTHER-.REFERNCES Modern Laboratory Appliances? published` by" Fisher Scientific Co. of Pittsburgh, Pa., 1934, page"` 142, item 3-398. (Copyfpund'in'nivision 29 of this cnice.) 5 I 

